Public attitudes toward monitor lizards (reptilia: varanidae): A conservation challenge in the human-dominated ecosystems of Bangladesh

© 2017 Rahman et al. The present study investigated the public attitudes toward monitor lizards in the human-dominated ecosystems of sub-tropical Bangladesh. In this regard, a total of 100 participants between the age of 15-65 were randomly selected from five different parts (20 participants from each part) of Bangladesh. Based on participants’ opinion, Varanus bengalensis is mostly known (58±2.20) and Varanus salvator is the least known (22±3.48) species among three monitor lizard species found in Bangladesh. Surprisingly, most of the participants (77±0.50) mentioned that monitor lizards are snakes. Though all the monitor lizards found in Bangladesh are non-venomous, a significant proportion (63±1.53) of the participants believe that monitor lizards are venomous and can attack and bite people. The participants’ viewpoint throughout the country regarding the above-mentioned issues, however, were somewhat similar (χ 2 test, p > 0.05). Despite their negative perception, most of the participants (71±1.27) agreed that monitor lizards play vital role in our ecosystems. The populations of monitor lizards are declining day by day at an alarming rate. Most of the participants (32±0.50) mentioned that retribution killing is the primary cause of the decline of monitor lizards. The highest proportion (56±1.35) of participants believe that there are no alternatives of awareness raising among local residents if we are to conserve monitor lizards in their natural environment that is shared by people

Experimental, Clinical and Morphological Analysis of H-Ras Oncoproteins for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Activated forms of Ras are enhanced in both breast cancer as well as the cell lines with EGFR and HER2 expression. Therefore, H-Ras could be activated in breast tumours in the absence of direct mutational activation of Ras itself and could contribute to 20-50% of the cases. Expression inhibition, signal transduction interruption from H-Ras to the nucleus could become a promising therapeutic target. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and morphological criteria of locally advanced breast cancer and the expression of H-Ras oncoprotein in patients who have been subjected to different regimens of farnesyltransferase inhibitor. METHODS: H-Ras status was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: An association between the expressions of H-Ras and Her2/neu (p = 0.001) as well as the tumour proliferation index Ki-67 (p = 0.001) in patients with breast cancer was established. Analysis of the relationship between H-Ras expression showed a relatively strong association with progression-free survival both before the treatment (V = 0.47; p = 0.001) and after the treatment (V = 0.45; p = 0.001). These results may indicate the clinical applicability of H-Ras as a prognostic factor or serve as a therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment. CONCLUSION: These results could indicate the potential clinical application of H-Ras as a prognostic factor or a therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment

Activity budgets and dietary investigations of varanus salvator (Reptilia: Varanidae) in Karamjal ecotourism spot of Bangladesh Sundarbans mangrove forest

© 2017, Asociacion Herpetologica Espanola. All rights reserved. Tropical mangrove forest ecosystem of Sundarbans is considered as the most potential habitat for Varanus salvator in Bangladesh. The study was conducted to understand the general ecology and behavior of V. salvator, to assess its activity patterns and feeding ecology in and around Karamjal ecotourism spot of Bangladesh Sundarbans. The activities of water monitor were more frequently seen during 0900 - 1200 hrs, and 1530 - 1700 hrs of the day. The proportion of time spent on different behavioral states by the water monitors varied significantly between the wet and dry seasons. It was found that adult water monitors spent a highest proportion of time in foraging activity during the rainy or wet season, whereas during winter they spent most of the time basking. During this study, their diet was mostly crabs, although they also showed their character as scavengers. Since V. salvato r is an ectothermic species, the influence of environmental variables upon its activities in different habitats either in summer or in winter, should not be ignored

Activity budgets and dietary investigations of varanus salvator (Reptilia: Varanidae) in Karamjal ecotourism spot of Bangladesh Sundarbans mangrove forest

© 2017, Asociacion Herpetologica Espanola. All rights reserved. Tropical mangrove forest ecosystem of Sundarbans is considered as the most potential habitat for Varanus salvator in Bangladesh. The study was conducted to understand the general ecology and behavior of V. salvator, to assess its activity patterns and feeding ecology in and around Karamjal ecotourism spot of Bangladesh Sundarbans. The activities of water monitor were more frequently seen during 0900 - 1200 hrs, and 1530 - 1700 hrs of the day. The proportion of time spent on different behavioral states by the water monitors varied significantly between the wet and dry seasons. It was found that adult water monitors spent a highest proportion of time in foraging activity during the rainy or wet season, whereas during winter they spent most of the time basking. During this study, their diet was mostly crabs, although they also showed their character as scavengers. Since V. salvato r is an ectothermic species, the influence of environmental variables upon its activities in different habitats either in summer or in winter, should not be ignored

Microhabitat use by the herpetofauna in mixed-evergreen and deciduous forests of Bangladesh

Microhabitats of 35 herpetofaunal species were studied by following visual encounter surveys and night searches with headlamps and flashlights. During the study period 3 nationally rare amphibian species were found: Xenophrys parva found in Dhopachari Reserve Forest, Chittagong beside a rocky Hill stream, Rhacophoruns htunwini found in Satchari National Park of Habiganj District in the undergrowth of mixed-evergreen forestand Kalophrynus interlineatus found in deciduous forest of Madhupur, in the slope of hillock. Among the amphibian species, most of the toads used the forest floor, the roots of trees, human settlement and slopes of the hillock as their microhabitat. The frogs used grasslands, forest floor with fallen leaves, water bodies and hill streams. Reptiles usually prefer to live in the bushy areas and also in trees, shrubs, rocks, under the fallen leaves, besides hill streams, under stones etc. Among the lizards Common Garden Lizard calotes versicolor was the most abundant in number and most of them used the undergrowth of the forest and bushy areas. The skinks used moist areas near hill streams and forest floor. The microhabitat is very specific for a species but many of the herpetofaunal species shared their microhabitat and also showed habitat preference